Airship construction



Oct. 15, 1929. M. R. MYERS AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet,

Filed Feb. 25, 1928 l NVENTOR Mk. Nye/w ATTORNEY$ Filed Feb. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVE'N'TOR ATTORNEYS:

Patented il et. 15, 1929 i MARSHALL R. MYERS, OF AIETON, IOWA AIRSI-IIP GO'NSTR-UCTION Application filed February 25, 1928. Serial No. 257,003.

My invention relates to improvements inlets 15 to relatively small outlets 16. The airship constructions, and it consists in the front wings 7 and 8 are distinguished from combinations, constructions, and arrangethe rear wings 12 and 13 by stating that the ments herein described and claimed. front Wings are relatively large and the rear An object of my invention is to provide an wings are relatively small. However, it is 55 airship construction which has novel means obvious that there is not an extreme differwhereby the airship will automatically right ence between the sizes of the two sets of wings. itself without the aid of the motor power. The same is true with the inlets and outlets A further object of my invention is to proof the two sets of wings in that there is not a 1 vide a device of the type described wherein great difi'erence between the size of the in are the wings are disposed in somewhat of a comlets and the size of'the outlets. Y However, the pact form adjacent the propellersthus obdifference is sufficiently great for the purpose viating the additional weight created by the intended, which will hereinafterbe described. outspreading wings of the ordinary aero- Motors 17 and 18 are mounted upon the plane. frame 1 beneath the front wings 7 and 8 and 65* A further object of my invention is to proare operatively connected to propellers 19 and vide a device of the type described in which 20 by means of shafts 21 and 22, respectively. the wing construction aids in lifting the air- Banking rudders or ailerons 23 and 24; are ship, hingedly connected to the frame 1 at the rear 20 Other objects and advantages will appear of the front-wings? and 8. The banking rud- 70 in the following specification, and the novel ders 23 and 24: are operated from the cabin features of the invention will be particularly 6 by any suitable means not shown. Rear pointed out in the appended claims. rudders 25 and 26 are hingedly connected to My invention is illustrated in the accomthe frame 1 at the rear portion thereof and 25 panying drawings, forming part of this apare operated from the cabin 6 by any suitable plication, in which mechanism, not shown. Front carriers 27 and F gure 1 1s a top planview of my device, rear earners 28 are secured to the fame 1 and Figure 2 is a sect1on substantially along extend therebeneath. the line 22 of Flgure 1, and From the foregoing description of the va-' I 30 F i gure 3 is a section substantially along the rious parts of the device, the operation thereon line 33 of FIOLUCB 1. of ma be readil understood. Let us assume In carrying out my invention, I provide a that'the motors 17 and 18 and the'propellers frame 1 having a front portion 2, a rear por- 19 and 20 are in motion. The motion of the tion 3, and side portions t and 5 which taper propellers tends to draw the airship forwardinwardly from the front portion 2 to the rear ly. When the airship is traveling at a desired portion I provide a cabin 6 which is speed, the rear rudders 25 and 26 may be mounted upon the frame at substantially the swungupwardlythus causing the airship to center thereof and which extends from the rise. When the airship has reachedthe defront portion 2 to substantially adjacent the sired height, the rear rudders may be again 40 rear portion 3 of the frame. lowered until they are in the general plane of so Relatively large front wings 7 and 8 are the frame 1. mounted upon the frame 1 by means of rela- The front wings 7 and 8 are of a Sllfi'lClGllt tively long supports 9. The wings 7 and 8 size so as not to be disturbed by the motion of are semi-circular in cross section and the walls the air which is created by the propellers. thereof taper from relatively large inlets 10 However, the rear wings are smaller in size to relatively small outlets 11. Relatively and are of a suilicient size to be affected by small rear wings 12 and 13 are mounted upon the air created by the movement of the ropelthe frame lby means of supports 14:. The lers. The air created by the propelers in wings 12 and 13 are semieircul r in cross secpa sin tl ough the rear wings pro" 'des sufiitien and are ta ered. from rel large in cit supporting end. of the we airship. The pilot may turn the airship in any desired direction by lowering one of the banking rudders and raising the other banking rudder; as, for instance, let us assume that the pilot is desirous of turning the airship to the right. By lowering the banking rudder 23, the left side of the airship will be raised and, by raising the banking rudder 24:, the right side of the ship will be lowered and in this manner the ship will travel through an arena e-shuped path to the right. The airship may be turned to the left in the same manner, only by raising the banking rudder 23 and lowering the banking rudder 24.

It is obvious that the cabin 6 is disposed at the center of the airship between the front wings and between the rear wings. It is also obvious that the cabin is disposed between the motors. Therefore, if the airship is used in time of war, the occupants of the cabin may have free range either forwardly or rearwardly without the need of shooting through the propellers.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the wings are positioned substantially adjacent the motors and the propellers, one motor may stop completely and the airship may be caused to travel in safety by the operation of only one motor and propeller. Let us assume that the motor 17 ceases to operate. The pilot may readily observe when'there is trouble with the motor and may shut off the motor entirely. However, to balance the ship, the banking rudder 23 is swung downwardly so as'to tend to lift the left side of the airship. The mechanician may then step from the cabin 6 and place the motor in its proper operative position again.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a frame, a front wing mounted upon said frame and arcuate-shaped in cross section, a rear wing mounted upon said frame and arenate-shaped in cross s-zr-ction, a propeller disposed in front of said front wing, means for actuating said propeller for moving said frame and said wings forwardly, the rotation of said propeller forcing air rearwardly through said front wing and said rear wing, said rear wing being relatively small'and having tapered walls whereby the air from said propeller wiil engage with said walls for supporting the rear portion of said frame and said rear wing, guide means disposed between said wings, and elevating means disposed at the rear of said rear wing.

52. A device of the type described comprising a frame, a pair of front wings arcuateshaped in cross section disposed upon said frame, a propeller disposed in front of each of said front wings, means for rotating said propellers, a cabin disposed between said front wings, a pair of relatively small rear win dis osed at the rear andin substantial alignment with said front wings, said rear of February 

